Creation of Innovation Clusters in Greece: the GSRT approach Dr Agnes SPILIOTI Director Support to Research Programmes Directorate General Secretariat.

Creation of Innovation Clusters in Greece: the GSRT approach

Dr Agnes SPILIOTIDirector Support to Research Programmes DirectorateGeneral Secretariat for Research and Technology

Study Visit, Athens, 23 April 2013 1

Human Potential in Research Employment of Researchers in Industry

Excellence in Research

Research InfrastructuresNational Roadmap

Strategic Planning and Programming

Evaluation and impact assessment

RDI indicators

Ministry of Education

General Secretariat for Research and TechnologySupport to Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Support/ supervision of the most important public research centers and institutes (10 research centers, 3 technological organizations)

Industrial ResearchLinks between Industry and Academia Innovation (incubators, technological parks, innovation clusters, spin off spin outs, innovation vouchers)

Regional RDI Dimension, Cooperation with regional / local authorities

Internationalization and extroversion of the Greek RDI system European research and Innovation Area

Athens, April 23, 2013 2

Background

Cluster initiatives are flourishing all over Europe in the fields of research and innovation, regional policy, enterprise and industry,

International experience: need for geographical and thematic focus - development of synergies and networking in the triple helix model,

Structure of the Greek productive sector: >90% SMES - Clustering could be a suitable tool to achieve economies of scale and scope,

Contribution to the European Innovation Strategy.

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Basic Research Universities, Research CentresExcellence, Human Potential (docs, post-docs)

State aid in Research & Development Funding CycleState aid in Research & Development Funding Cycle

Industrial research, Academia – Industry Cooperation, Transnational cooperation, Highly skilled personnel in industry

Spin Offs – Spin OutsInnovation ClustersIncubators Venture Capital

Tax exemptions (50% R&D expenditures - Patents)Development ActStructural Funds

ExpansionStart-upSeedPre-seedApplied R&DBasic R&D

Private Contribution

State funding

Commercial financingPre-commercial financing

Death Valley

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Support to Innovation ClustersBuild on previous experience: good

practice in the Micro-electronics / embedded systems sector (Corallia), initiated by 2005.

Following a long consultation period, GSRT in 2011 launched a new Action to support the creation of innovation clusters in further sectors (co-funded by European Regional Development Fund)

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Model: Innovation clusters according

to the Community Framework of State Aids for R & D and Innovation

(2006/c/323/01/30.12.2006) + Facilitator

Innovation Clusters “groupings of independent undertakings — innovative start-ups, small, medium and large undertakings, as well as research organisations — operating in a particular sector and region and designed to stimulate innovative activity by promoting intensive interactions, sharing of facilities and exchange of knowledge and expertise and by contributing effectively to technology transfer, networking and information dissemination among the undertakings in the cluster”.

In addition: knowledge - driven, specialise in innovative activities of high added - value and strongly oriented towards international markets.

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Facilitator Public or private organization playing a catalytic role in

the setting up, expansion and management of the cluster: supporting the development of the necessary synergies and interactions, mentoring, providing services (legal advice, IPR, training etc), promoting visibility, international networking and penetration of products in global markets.

Free access to information and services to all potentially interested undertakings of the sector, members and non members of the cluster (open access one stop shop).

Dissemination of results. Support for access to finance.

Open access national infrastructure in the thematic field of the cluster.

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A Two - Steps Approach 1st Step: Call for expressions of interest

(September 2011) - submission of short proposals including a mapping exercise in the thematic field of the emerging cluster, identification of the clustering needs, cluster identity),

2nd Step: Call for submission of 5 - years business plans (launched July 2012). Financial support for the implementation of a 2-years pilot programme of joint activities.

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Successive phases in clusters evolution Phase 0: Preparatory phase -

Mapping- Identification of Clustering Needs.

GSRT intervention

Phase 1: Implementation of a Pilot Programme of Joint Activities.

Phase 2: Expansion – achievement of critical mass,

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Call for expressions of interest: (Step 1) launched September 2011

Target groups: networks including at least 10 business firms (8 SMEs) and at least 1 research/academic organisation located in Greece.

Open to all sectors/ thematic fields, and to all Greek regions

No limitation as to the type of the facilitator (private or public sectors)

No specific legal form was required prior to the submission.

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Evaluation Results Step 1 (January 2012)

23 proposals submitted

Evaluation by international experts (October 2011- January 2012): 9 proposals selected to proceed to Step 2

ICT, Biotechnology for Health, Energy, Organic Electronics, Photonics.

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Call for submission of Business Plans (2nd Step, launched July 2012)

The 9 selected applicants of Step 1 were invited to submit a 5-years business plan for the cluster as a whole, as well as individual proposals for the facilitator and each participating enterprise.

8 proposals submitted Evaluation by international experts Evaluation results announced by January 2013 4 proposals selected for funding

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Cluster proposals selected for fundingLIFE SCIENCES CLUSTER IN

GREECE - BIONIANHellenic Space Technologies and

Applications Cluster ( si-Cluster) Innovative Gaming Technologies and

Creative Content cluster ( gi-Cluster)Chorus Cluster for Green Energy -

CHORUS

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Budget Initial Total Public Funding: 30 m €

Maximum Public funding per cluster: 5 m €

Facilitator: Joint infrastructures, provision of services Business firms: relocation, consultancy, innovation

advisory and support services, IPR, professional training, participation to joint fairs, creation of spin offs, prototype development and demonstration projects

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The Innovation Cluster Programme is not a research funding scheme!

Basic or industrial research activities are not eligible for funding under the Programme,

No direct support is provided to research organizations (HEIs, PROs), for activities other than the functions of the facilitator,

Research organizations are allowed to participate as subcontractors to business firms for the implementation of experimental development projects.

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Expected benefits Increase investment in innovation, Promote knowledge- driven entrepreneurship

in high added value sectors, Identify competitive advantages for the

country (existing or potential) / smart specialization

Promote employment of highly skilled personnel,

Increase of exports and private investments, Networking / complementarities with

innovation clusters abroad.Athens, April 23, 2013 16

Monitoring Indicators No of undertakings (SMES in particular), research and other

organizations participating to the cluster Turnover Exports Attraction of private investments IPR expenditure No of patents/ filings for patents No of international trademarks No of quality certifications R&D expenditure Expenditure for research equipment No of employees PhD or Master degree holders No of PhD, MSC prepared Professional training activities undertaken Participation to fairs, exhibitions, brokerage events…..

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Constraints Limited spontaneous clustering activities, limited

previous experience Long, heavy, bureaucratic procedures Restrictions of the Regional Distribution of the

European Structural Funds – Limited R&DI budget for the regions in transition (Attiki and C.Macedonia), having the highest innovation capacity,

Restrictions of the European State Aid Regulations,

Current economic crisis.

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Future PerspectivesLaunching of a new Call (when?)National Cluster Forum International Networking / Explore

Opportunities offered at the European levelFurther support for expansion –

achievement of critical mass / appropriate schemes to explore in the next programming period 2014-2020.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

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